Creating Opportunities in Our Community

 Your role in United Way's year-end impact

United Way is making a significant impact in our community, addressing key issues in health, education, and economic mobility. By focusing on immediate needs and tackling the root causes of systemic problems, we are building a foundation for a healthier and more prosperous community.

Elevating Health as a Community Asset

Health is not just an individual concern; it's an asset that shapes the well-being of our community. Challenges like food insecurity and limited access to health services hold back our collective potential.

Through initiatives like the Catholic Charities Joyce Family Food Pantry, we are making essential services and healthy foods more accessible. This, in turn, helps create a community where everyone not only survives but actively contributes to their well-being. When people are healthy, they can fully engage in work, volunteering, and community participation. 

For instance, Hazel has been utilizing services at Catholic Charities’ Joyce Family Food Pantry for nine years and always is so grateful for what they do for her and so many of her friends and neighbors. She often brings in produce from a neighbor's garden who is also a client, and offers to pick up monthly distributions for her neighbors who are unable to come in person. 

So many of our neighbors, just like Hazel, receive the benefits of the collaboration between United Way and Catholic Charities Joyce Family Food Pantry.

Our approach goes beyond surface-level solutions; it aims to establish a robust and healthy foundation for everyone in our community.

Unlocking Future Success through Education

Education is a cornerstone for personal and societal development. Partnering with programs like Bona Buddies, we provide tangible benefits such as mentors reading to children, helping with homework, playing board games, and making crafts. For families, this translates to a simple yet powerful reality: children who are engaged with mentors have a better chance of succeeding in school and life.

 “Every young person needs someone who completely believes in them and their potential,” Alice Miller Nation, Franciscan Center for Social Concern director says. “Bona Buddies offers a healthy and fun relationship between a SBU student and a young person in the community. I find that when our students participate in clubs like Bona Buddies, they too are transformed. The buddies grow and have amazing experiences through this program, but they give as much to the SBU students as they receive.”

United Way is committed not only to addressing immediate educational needs but also to building a strong foundation for future academic and career success.

Economic Mobility: A Generational Investment

Our focus extends to adults, particularly in the areas of job skills and financial education. Through the Southern Tier Traveling Teacher program, we’re creating pathways for individuals to earn a family-supporting wage and pursue career advancement. 

Initiatives like Traveling Teachers are crucial as they break the cycle of financial instability that can persist for generations. Our goal is to support lasting solutions that uplift entire communities, moving beyond quick fixes.

For instance, Paige, a mother with young children who works full-time, credits the Traveling Teacher program’s flexibility and exceptional tutors for her recent success. According to her tutor, Paige's positive attitude, perseverance, and ability to juggle a very full schedule made her a great student to work with and her goal for 2024 is to enroll in a phlebotomy class. 

As a grant funded program, the services offered by Traveling Teachers are free for enrolled students.

How Can You Help?

While we continue to support organizations that create opportunities and close gaps, challenges still exist. Many in our community struggle to meet basic needs, and children face the risk of falling behind. Addressing these challenges requires collective action. 

Join us in creating opportunities for everyone in our community to thrive. Your donation today can make a meaningful difference. Together, let's continue building a healthier, more prosperous community for all.